Nottestad Won't Seek Re-Election in 2010

He's served in the capitol for nearly 20 years, but state representative Darrell Nottestad will not be putting his name on the ballot this fall.

After finishing a record-long session, Nottestad says it was time to step down from his post and spend more time with family.

For state representative Darrell Nottestad, 2009 was in many ways similar to 1997. The spring session was delayed by both severe weather and spring flooding.

"We took days off, the Bismarck flooding hit, the Fargo flooding hit and basically, the Fargo legislators had to go home, we did this in '97, I went home, I talked to John Dorso, who was majority leader at the time, I said my house could go, he said get the heck out of here," Nottestad said.

After 16 years at the capitol, Nottestad will be getting the heck out of Bismarck. He says after being a part of this spring's record-long 79 day session, it was time to step down.

"It was a decision that Ellen and I made together, and I'd served 16 years and she basically served with me and we felt it was time to look at other things and give somebody else a chance to run for the office," Nottestad said.

Nottestad is leaving his seat during a prosperous time for the state. North Dakota currently boasts more than a billion dollars in surplus.

"There'll be plenty of people that have the full ability to spend the money, it's how they spend it that's going to be the important issue. We

spent money on things this year that we only dreamed we could spend on," Nottestad said.

Eliot Glassheim has served with Nottestad in the house for more than ten years. Glassheim says he's excited by the prospect of bringing a democratic candidate to a republican majority house, but admits it will be sad to see Darrell leave.

"A very fine legislator, who was thoughtful and restrained and principled, and so I think we'll all miss him when we come back again in 2011," Glassheim said.

"I'm going to miss it terribly, I'll be very honest about it. I loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed it, working with what we did, I've had the best opportunities on communities," Nottestad said.

Nottestad says there were a few bills he was unable to see passed including a smoking ban in bars and a restriction on texting while driving.

He'll continue serving on the county water board.

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